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Joshua Van Replaces Manel Kape In UFC 317 Bout Against Brandon Royval
Joshua Van Replaces Manel Kape In UFC 317 Bout Against Brandon Royval
Manel Kape is out of his UFC 317 bout against Brandon Royval due to injury. 23-year-old prospect Joshua Van will step in on short notice to take on Royval.
Royval confirmed the opponent switch with an Instagram video.
“Manel Kape is out, Joshua Van is stepping in,” Royval said. “I have zero idea on the extent of Manel Kape’s injuries, but I do not know that I have the hottest prospect and probably the most exciting UFC flyweight in front of me. Really nothing changes for me as far as what’s in front of me. I’ve got a gangster that’s ready to take my head off and earn his name off of me.
“I appreciate the matchup. Also, just excited to f—–g, one, just be in what I think is the most exciting matchup in the flyweight division and be aligned on the same flyweight title card as (Alexandre) Pantoja and Kai Kara-France.”
Kape confirmed that he will not compete at UFC 317 while adding that his exact injury is a foot fracture.
A matchup between Royval and Kape is one of the most entertaining and compelling fights that can be booked in the flyweight division. It is a shame the fight was lost, but Van is the perfect replacement to ensure the fight can live up to its original hype.
Van is coming off a third-round knockout victory against Bruno Silva at UFC 316. It only took him two days to get his next fight booked. This move continues Van’s trend of being one of the most active fighters in the sport. In his two-year UFC tenure, he has fought eight times.
A fight against Royval will be a massive step up in competition for Van. That said, he has earned it. He has proved to be an elite prospect in his 7-1 UFC run.
The new matchup between Royval and Van puts each fighter in a remarkable position. UFC 317 is a stacked card that will serve as the key event for International Fight Week. It will be one of the most watched pay-per-view events of the year. As importantly, Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Kara-France will fight for the flyweight title in the co-main event. This dynamic allows Royval and Van to gain fans and potentially earn a title fight.
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